Taxes

Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Just Vote Yes, Willya?

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Safe Roads YES! is already running media ads . . . why aren’t their opponents?

So, about three weeks ago, Safe Roads YES! launched their radio and television ad campaign, designed to convince us that jacking up our per-person state tax-and-fee burden by roughly $248.12 – permanently (not including inflation adjustments to the wholesale fuel tax) – is a good idea. To do so, they’re using the standard tactics of bogus statistics and emotional appeals, praying that the typical low-information voter isn’t going to do even the basic homework into the legislative piece of sausage that the GoverNerd and his hodge-podge of allies are doing their damnedest to slide by us roughly six weeks from now.

And you’d think that at least one of the organizations or individuals lined up to oppose the Michigan Sales Tax Increase for Transportation Amendment would have already snagged media buys for at least one well-produced television commercial. I’ll freely admit that I don’t spend much time in front of the boob tube these days, but I can’t seem to get through even one prime-time television show (regardless of channel) without seeing at least one Pro-1 30-second spot. The reason that bugs me (both the pro-1 ad campaign and the absence of an anti-1 ad campaign) has less to do with polling, and more to do with my understanding of voter behavior.

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Democrats, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Rep. Faris and Sen. Hopgood enjoy a Creative Suggestion

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Only in America would folks be so foolish as to pay additional monies for cutesy, and mostly ignoble causes on what is a tax tab, however, there are those who believe our unalienable Right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness also includes our Secretary of State acting as a collection arm for the murdering of babies.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

SEC. 811II. (1) THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL DEVELOP UNDER SECTION 811E AND ISSUE UNDER SECTION 811F A FUND-RAISING PLATE RECOGNIZING WOMEN’S HEALTH. THE SECRETARY OF STATE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD AFFILIATES OF MICHIGAN, SHALL DESIGN THE FUND-RAISING PLATES AUTHORIZED IN THIS SECTION.

Read both bills here, and here.

Because those on The Left love to provide “free stuff” to “the poor” they create in return for a Democratic Party vote so much, here’s an artistic freebie to all the Femocrats who believe their Bee-esS about “Women’s Health™” isn’t seen for what it is.
michiganplannedparenthood

Now, really need further convincing that Progressives aren’t just a plantation of simpletons used to elect their dystopian masters?

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Elections, Humor in Michigan, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Bejebus! Our Proposal 1 inbox is Smoking Hot This Morning

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A reader sends this juicy morsel from Paul Egan a few days ago.

STOP-167■ Allow cities whose transit services carry more than 10 million passengers per year, which includes Detroit, to spend up to 20% of its share of Michigan Transportation Fund money on transit, rather than city roads and streets.

■ Add language to allow the Michigan Transportation Fund to receive money from any source, not just fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees.

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GasTaxRegistrationFreesHikeCan one say Regional Transit Authority? Us well-informed RightMi.com readers sure can. Matter of fact, there is a Tag for that, and we here will allow the missed it by 4% registration fee hike to remain in this Tag, here.

But, back to that RTA… isn’t it nice of the movers and shakers within SEMCOG to provide means of special assessments and property tax hikes by statute for the ongoing bailout of Wayne County? Gee, all of Michigan should thank, slick Rick and Lt. Calley, for that, no?

OABTW, did I happen to mention that I had the opportunity to shake hands with our beloved Republican governor on St. Patty’s Day? True story.

I was at a local convenience store reaching for my wallet and accidentally intercepted Snyder’s hand.
CamachoSnyderBecause every president really needs a *Smart Guy™*…

You Betcha! (17)Nuh Uh.(2)

Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Vote yes or you all will D-I-E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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That’s the latest narrative for unaccountable MDOT from “Vote Yes” spokesperson governor Snyder.

GasTaxRegistrationFreesHikeGov. Rick Snyder joined Wayne County Executive Warren Evans [see here], Washtenaw County Sheriff John Clayton, Brad Williams of the Detroit Regional Chamber [these guys] and others for a morning press conference at a fire station in Dearborn [allah shazam].

Snyder, holding chunks of a broken road and bridge, reinforced the public safety message that the “Safe Roads Yes” campaign is emphasizing ahead of the May 5 vote.

“Can you imagine one of these coming through your windshield?” the governor said, going on to state that 14 percent of the bridges in Metro Detroit have plywood installed beneath them to catch falling concrete. “Your life is in jeopardy.”

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McLellan_Mac_Cen_Vote_Yes_man-behind-the-scenePathetic. You know what? I’m getting a little sick of the scare tactic bullsh!t coming from Snyder to justify his big spending, and crony contractor friends. Even a party bootlicker like Tom Shields recognizes this is a major backfire, however, milquetoast Willy’s protégé hailing from Ann Arbor, is tone deaf on the matter and I strongly encourage Snyder, along with his Lt. toad to carry on with this “we’re all gonna dieeeeeee” meme. I mean, what’s better than having tax-hike loving Virg Bernero in Prop 1’s corner?

STOP-167Perhaps, commercials showcasing a school bus with a disgruntled AFSCME driver in them? Maybe, some mom who maintains her own life in the very same fashion that MDOT maintains theirs and the squandering of our tax dollars while lying about it?

Remember folks, Prop 1 is a $2,000,000,000 hike with annual tax hike ratchet mechanism on fuel with a whole lotta public sector union payola (everywhere) and fraud embedded into it.

Stop-100Is that how our state constitution should be changed?

I think not.

You Betcha! (27)Nuh Uh.(1)

Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Gotta Give Fatboy Some Credit

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Just some.

Read all about it here.

Now a brief reminder of our Michigan Automobile Dealers Associations’ schwantz-swallowers.

Don’t blame me, I didn’t vote for any of them.

You Betcha! (15)Nuh Uh.(1)

Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Costly Energy has a Face: Tsaritsa Brader

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Go here to read the 8 page Executive Order all for yourself.

For an insight to what all that ^ means, here’s where the idea for the video below originated.

Well, that was a 2003 Mitt, not the 2012 chameleon who y’all just elected his niece as party chair. Yep. 40% in under 10 years.

Congratulations, Boobus Michiganderus.

Camacho 2016!

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Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, Rent Seeking, Republicans, Taxes

Ugh, work is stupid!

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Let’s all take a break.

Just when you thought that the Three-ring Circus that tries to pass itself off as “leadership” couldn’t make an even bigger ass of themselves than they already have done to date, they just turn around and surprise you.

Same cast of characters. Same city.

And another example of ungrateful children pretending to be mature adults wasting your hard earned money.

{Click below to find out who they are and what they have done this time}

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Conservative News, Democrats, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

$ 70 Million More Down the Drain Every Year

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Michigan Triples Down On The Most Abused Federal Program

Flushing-Money

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released its FY 2014 estimates of improper payments made by the Federal Government in testimony before the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on Monday. The Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 and the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 require Federal Executive Branch agencies to estimate the levels of improper payments in all Federal programs. The GAO assembles this data and reports the levels of improper payments, along with recommendations to minimize such improper payments.

At the Federal level, all improper payments amounted to about $ 125 billion dollars in FY 2014. Even by casual Federal accounting standards this is breathtaking.  Three cents of every Federal Government dollar spent. Going through the GAO’s estimates by program, the Earned Income Tax Credit is at the top of the list by percentage of improper payments: 27.2 % of all EITC payments are improper. The GAO estimated FY 2014 improper EITC payments by the Federal Government alone amounted to $ 17.7 billion dollars. Other Federal programs burned more dollars, but none had the percentage rate of improper payments that the EITC has. Not even close.

The most obscure element of the tax increase package which Michigan voters will be asked to approve on May 5th is Senate Bill 847 of 2014. This bill is a $ 260 million annual increase in the State of Michigan’s version of the EITC. The EITC will increase from its current 6 %, to 20 %, of the Federal EITC credit allowed under Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code. Currently, the Michigan EITC pays out about $ 80 million from the Michigan Treasury every year at the 6 % rate.

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Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

$hocking?

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Wee bit busy today so, here’s one for you from Mr. Spencer.

Bill Package Includes Elimination of Energy Choice

Do read.

Yep. More central planning. Snyder and Calley’s costly Green Energy mandate with 100% government bureaucrat control was mentioned here at RightMi.com two days ago.

OABTW, isn’t it nice that this *new* majority in Lansing is still carrying Howard “screw you” Walker’s water, too?
two-headed-snake

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

You Betcha! (21)Nuh Uh.(3)

Cronyism, Democrats, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Where’s The Bridge?

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Questionable MDoT Database Compromises Auditor General's Bridge Inspection Performance Audit

Jefferson Rouge BridgeThe Michigan Office of the Auditor General released its overdue performance audit of MDoT’s Bridge Inspection Program Friday afternoon, just in time to miss last week’s news cycle. Weekend news reports focused on bridge inspection frequency, but there is a more fundamental question which should be answered first: Are the MDoT bridge records which were audited complete and correct?  Even remotely so?

The Federal Highway Administration collects bridge data from the State DoT’s and other sources to create and maintain the National Bridge Inventory. It is supposed to list all American bridges which have roads running across them or below them, along with ownership, identifiers, and condition data. Condition data is given as a number from 0 (failed) through 9 (good beyond current standards). These numbers then get converted into the descriptors you read in the press, such as ‘structurally deficient’, poor, good, etc.

The MOAG performance audit is replete with statistics derived from MDoT’s bridge inventory database which show – no surprise – that some of Michigan’s bridges are in poor shape. You can see MOAG’s statistics as of April 30th, 2014 in the audit or go to a searchable database of individual bridge data across the entire country, as of 2012, brought to us by Alexander Svirsky of MassRoads.com.

A first pass at the MOAG bridge inspection audit involved looking at the worst condition category of bridges, those rated 0 or 1 for failed or imminent failure. Going through the Wayne County owned bridge summary on Page 51 of the new MOAG audit, I was heartened to see that Wayne County has no condition category 0 or 1 bridges. But there are at least two zero condition category major bridges in Wayne County across the Rouge River, so let’s say I am experiencing a little cognitive dissonance just now.

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